Peaceful and Politically Stable Afghanistan: The Role that Shanghai Cooperation Organization Can Play

Authors

  • Faiza Bashir Assistant professor at the Department of Political Science Islamia College University Peshawar.
  • Subhan Ali MPhil. Scholar, Department of Political Science Islamia College University Peshawar.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54418/ca-95.233

Keywords:

SCO, Afghanistan, Stabilizing, Withdrawal, Taliban

Abstract

Terrorism is one of the leading causes of Afghanistan's insecurity. The conflict and war in Afghanistan has given terrorist groups opportunity to thrive and grow. The current economic crisis in Afghanistan and the quick international recognition of the Taliban are both major challenges for SCO. The situation necessitates a greater sense of responsibility on the part of regional countries to collaborate for the stability of Afghanistan. Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states should take short term and long-term steps for political and economic development of the country. The SCO's participation in Afghanistan can be enhanced through emphasis on the shared interests of Pakistan, China, Russia, and other neighboring countries. The SCO now has the opportunity, given Afghanistan’s present need, to take such steps. This paper highlights the concrete measures that the SCO has already taken and more steps that it can take. It is suggested that reconstruction, development, governance, and humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan are not only the responsibility of the regional countries but also the international community and international organizations.

References

Ali, S. ‘SCO’s Role in Afghanistan’s Stability’. Centre for Strategic and Contemporary Research (blog), 10 September 2021. https://cscr.pk/explore/themes/politics-governance/scos-role-in-afghanistans-stability/.

Allison, R. and Lena Jonson. Central Asian Security: The New International Context. London: The Royal Institute of International Affairs, 2001.

Aman, F. ‘Iran-Taliban Growing Ties: What’s Different This Time?’ Atlantic Council (blog), 16 February 2021. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/iransource/iran-taliban-growing-ties-whats-different-this-time/.

Aris, S. ‘A New Model of Asian Regionalism: Does the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Have More Potential than ASEAN?’ Cambridge Review of International Affairs, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1080/09557570903104040.

———. Eurasian Regionalism The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. London: Palgrave Macmillan., 2011.

Awasthi, S. ‘Afghanistan’s Centrality to the SCO’. Hindustan Times, 12 September 2022. https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-insight/international-affairs/afghanistans-centrality-to-the-sco-101662967650884.html.

BBC News. ‘Taliban Are Back - What next for Afghanistan?’ BBC News, 8 September 2019, sec. Asia. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-49192495.

‘CGTN:Afghanistan: Life Beyond Scars: SCO Secretary-General on Its Role in Helping Afghanistan’s Reconstruction and Development’, 2 September 2022. http://eng.sectsco.org/media/20220902/911192/CGTNAfghanistan-Life-Beyond-Scars-SCO-Secretary-General-on-its-role-in-helping-Afghanistans.html.

Eurasianet. ‘Taliban, Tajikistan Embroiled in Battle of Words, Saber-Rattling | Eurasianet’, 30 September 2021. https://eurasianet.org/taliban-tajikistan-embroiled-in-battle-of-words-saber-rattling.

Goldstein, J. S., and Jon C. Pevehouse. ‘Liberal Institutionalism.’ In International Relations. New Delhi: Pearson Education, 2008.

Haidar, S. ‘Indian Envoy in Doha Meets Taliban Leader’. The Hindu, 31 August 2021, sec. India. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indian-envoy-in-doha-meets-taliban-leader/article61423725.ece.

Haidari, M. A. ‘Securing Afghanistan Remains SCO’s Neglected Mission Possible’, 16 September 2022. https://thediplomat.com/2022/09/securing-afghanistan-remains-scos-neglected-mission-possible/.

‘H.E. Rashid Alimov (Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Global Sustainable Transport Conference (Ashgabat, 2016), 3rd Plenary Session | UN Web TV’, 27 November 2016. https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1o/k1og24oz50.

Hopf, T. ‘The Promise of Constructivism in International Relations Theory”’. International Security 23, no. 01 (1998): 171–81.

Isachenkov, V. ‘Taliban Visit Moscow to Say Their Wins Don’t Threaten Russia | AP News’, 8 July 2021. https://apnews.com/article/taliban-moscow-europe-russia-51327432f1455020352826281c6c4e73.

‘Joint Communiqué of Meeting of Council of Heads of SCO Members’, 23 August 2007. https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjdt_665385/2649_665393/200708/t20070823_679182.html.

Katzenstein, P.J. ‘Introduction: Alternative Perspectives on National Security’. In The Culture of National Security: Norms and Identity in World Politics, 02. New York: Columbia University Press, 1996.

Kaura, V. ‘Pakistan-Afghan Taliban Relations Face Mounting Challenges’. Middle East Institute, 2 December 2022. https://www.mei.edu/publications/pakistan-afghan-taliban-relations-face-mounting-challenges.

MacFarlane, S. N. ‘The United States and Regionalism in Central Asia’. International Affairs 80, no. 03 (2004): 460–61.

Maizland, L. ‘The Taliban in Afghanistan’. Council on Foreign Relations, 19 January 2023. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/taliban-afghanistan.

Mistry, P. S. ‘Regional Integration and Economic Development.’ In The New Regionalism and the Future of Security and Development. New Yark: Palgrave Macmillan., 2000.

Oresman, M. ‘The SCO Summit and Criteria for Analysis’, 2004. http://www.chinaeurasia.org /files/CEF_June_2004.pdf.

Press Trust of India. ‘“Everything Will Be Okay”: Pakistan’s Intelligence Chief Faiz Hameed during Visit to Kabul’. India Today, 5 September 2021. https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/pakistan-intelligence-chief-faiz-hameed-visit-kabul-1849323-2021-09-05.

Ramay, S.A. ‘Shanghai Cooperation Organization Is Distinctly Different from NATO’, 21 September 2022. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202209/21/WS632a617ca310fd2b29e78cff.html.

Sanderson, T.M., Daniel Kimmage, and David A. Gordon. ‘From the Ferghana Valley to South Waziristan The Evolving Threat of Central Asian Jihadists’. Washington D.C: Center for Stretagic and Internaional Studies. CSIS., 2010.

SCO. ‘Samarkand Declaration of Shanghai Cooperation Organization - 2022’, 16 September 2022. https://dig.watch/resource/samarkand-declaration-of-the-council-of-heads-of-state-of-shanghai-cooperation-organization.

Seiwert, E. ‘The Shanghai Cooperation Organization Will Not Fill Any Vacuum in Afghanistan - Foreign Policy Research Institute’, 30 September 2021. https://www.fpri.org/article/2021/09/the-shanghai-cooperation-organization-will-not-fill-any-vacuum-in-afghanistan/.

‘Shanghai Cooperation Organisation | SCO’, 17 September 2021. http://eng.sectsco.org/news/20210917/782639.html.

Smith, E.C., J.Harter, F.Katherine. ‘Hardening Positions on Afghanistan Following Summit in Dushanbe’. Novastan English (blog), 7 December 2021. https://novastan.org/en/tajikistan/hardening-positions-on-afghanistan-following-summit-in-dushanbe/.

Syed, B.S. ‘PM Speaks to Emomali to Defuse Tajikistan’s Tension with Taliban’. DAWN.COM, 3 October 2021. https://www.dawn.com/news/1649826.

Tanzeem, A. ‘Russia, China, Pakistan Push Taliban Toward Inclusivity’. VOA, 22 September 2021. https://www.voanews.com/a/russia-china-pakistan-push-taliban-toward-inclusivity/6240971.html.

Times, Global. ‘SCO’s Role in Afghan Issue Constructive, as US-Led West’s Involvement Detrimental, Leaving Only Devastation - Global Times’, 19 September 2022. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202209/1275588.shtml

Downloads

Published

2025-01-09

How to Cite

Bashir, F. ., & Ali, S. . (2025). Peaceful and Politically Stable Afghanistan: The Role that Shanghai Cooperation Organization Can Play. Central Asia, 95(Winter), 65–83. https://doi.org/10.54418/ca-95.233